Thieves target school kids carrying iPods, other devices, police say

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Los Altos High cross-country runner Darren Choi, 15 after the meet on the field holding his iPod.Cross-country runners use the iPods before and after their cross-country meet, Lynbrook Center Meet. At Lynbrook High School in San Jose on September 6, 2007. (Josie Lepe/Mercury News)

SAN LEANDRO — These days, children walking to and from school carry high-tech gadgets often worth more than $100.

Students are as likely to be carrying Apple iPods and smart phones as school books.

But the portability, cachet and cash value of such items make them tempting for thieves.

On June 4, two juveniles were robbed in separate incidents while walking near schools:

At 10:50 a.m. in the 300 block of Dutton Avenue near Washington Elementary School, two men approached a middle-school boy. One flashed a knife before robbing the boy of his cell phone and MP3 player, according to police.

At 2:10 p.m. that day, a high school student was walking in the 14100 block of Bancroft Avenue, not far from San Leandro High School, while listening to music on his iPod. Someone came up from behind and hit him twice in the head before robbing him.

Both cases remain unsolved.

San Leandro Police Sgt. Bob McManus did not have exact numbers, but estimated that about 10 of these types of robberies are occurring each month in his city, with the majority of the victims being juveniles.

“It is happening on a regular basis. When we speak of iPods and iPhones and electronic gadgets, frequently we’re running into victims who are anywhere from 12 and up. When we get these types of crimes it’s occurring after school when the kids are walking home.”

McManus said thieves are coming into town to target young people carrying electronic devices, and they sometimes operate in groups. They strong-arm children into giving up their property, and sell the items on the street or give them to friends.

“A 13-year-old is going to be intimidated by a 17-year-old, 18- or 19-year-old when they’re threatened with attack,” McManus said. “More so, the suspects are not known to the victim, they are not San Leandro residents, and they are not attending the schools here.”

Small electronic devices, such as the iPod, are quickly sold for cash, he said. And when police stop a suspect carrying an iPod or cell phone, it is difficult to determine if the item is stolen.

When police catch someone for such a robbery, they sometimes discover that the thief has been responsible for multiple robberies, he added.

McManus advises students to walk in groups, use well-traveled thoroughfares, and if suspected thieves are approaching, walk away and call for help.

“For the parents, when they buy these items for their children, record the serial number. That is a definite way for law enforcement to identify that item later,” he said.

If a child is being intimidated into turning over an iPod, “It’s better to replace the property than get hurt. It’s sad that teenagers are faced with that, but that’s the reality we have today.”

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